Van Niekerk smashes 21-year-old Diamond League record

Sprint sensation Wayde van Niekerk sprinted to victory on his return to international action at the Diamond league meeting on Thursday night in Lausanne, Switzerland, running the fastest 400m of the year in 43,62.

His time improved the previous meeting record of 43,66 set by Michael Johnson 21 years ago. It was also an IAAF Diamond League record.

The 24-year-old broke the world record in the 2016 Olympic final in Rio.

IOL reports that a month away from the IAAF World Championships in London, Van Niekerk boasts the world’s leading times of the season in both the 200m and the 400m, after improving Johnson’s meet record by 0,04.

Diamond League reports that Van Niekerk had claimed at a press conference prior to the race that he wouldn’t be disappointed if he didn’t run under 44 seconds.

He told the website after the race that he didn’t have a specific time in mind before the race, but was pleased with the result. “I have a love-hate relationship with the 400m. However, I try to always approach it with a positive mindset, not setting myself any limits, and the performances keep coming, which keeps me passionate.”

It was his first race in Europe this year and his first 400m. “I will have one more competition before London. There, I want to put on a show and aim for a great time,” he added.